Transcript Document

Geology I
(ERTH-1100)
Fall, 2009
Syllabus
Class Homepage:http://www.rpi.edu/~roecks/geo1.html
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Office Hours:
Electronic Mail:
Steven Roecker
SC 1W06
276-6773
Tuesday 3-5 (Call first to be sure)
[email protected]
Objectives
This course will focus on Geological Processes
in the interior of the Earth and how they are
manifested at the surface.
We will discuss the age and origin of the Earth,
how rocks form, large scale Earth processes,
and energy sources.
We will also review plate tectonics and the
evolution of the main features of the Earth's
surface (mountains, oceans, etc.).
Format
Material will be disseminated via twice weekly
lectures and once a week labs.
Your grade will be based on your performance on
quizzes and exams, along with the occasional
homework.
Meeting times
Lecture:
2 lectures each week in SAGE 3303;
Monday and Thursday , from 10:00 to 11:50 AM
Lab:
SECTION DAY
1100-01
W
1100-02 W
1100-03 W
1100-04 W
TIMES
8:00 am - 9:50 pm
12:00 pm - 1:50 pm
10:00 am - 11:50 am
2:00 pm - 3:50 pm
BUILDING/ROOM
J-ROWL/3W13
J-ROWL/3W13
J-ROWL/3W13
J-ROWL/3W13
Main Text:
Author
Title
Publisher
ISBN
Status
Stephen Marshak
Earth: Portrait of a Planet, 3rd Edition
Norton
0-393-92502-1
Required
Lab Book:
Authors
Title
Publisher
Status
Norris W. Jones and Charles E. Jones
Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology,
7th edition
McGraw-Hill
Required
Other Reading
Various articles and notes will be on reserve in Folsom
or in the class reserve shelves in the headquarters of
E&ES.
You may read them in the E&ES headquarters but they
are not to be removed from the room. There are
photocopy machines in the room that can be used for a
reasonable fee (see Kim Watson in the E&ES main
office for more information).
Some of the articles from scientific journals may also
be available in the Folsom library collection.
Electronic Communication
This class has a web site that containing pages with news
relevant to the class such as updates on lectures, exams,
and various review materials.
The page will be updated about once a week; more often
if important items come up.
The URL of the web site is
http://www.rpi.edu/~roecks/geo1.html
Topics to be covered
For the most part, we will cover the parts of the text of Earth:
Portrait of a Planet that are relevant to the Geo I course
objectives.
We will, however, occasionally diverge from the text into areas
of particular interest. Check the web site for updates.
While the content of the course will follow the order of
presentation shown in the a priori schedule, it is impossible for
me to tell you beforehand exactly what the content of a
particular lecture will be.
This information will be provided via the web site (or just come
to class and find out!).
Grading
Grades will be based on performance in homework, quizzes
(short tests about 15 minutes in duration - these will be
announced one or two lectures in advance), hour-long exams,
and labs.
There will be 3 exams (two during the term and a final on the
last regular day of class).
Exams are cumulative and can cover all previous material
from lecture and readings, although most of the questions will
be on material covered since the previous exam.
Quizzes may include material from the assigned readings that
have not been covered in lecture. You are expected to have
read the assigned chapters prior to class.
Weights used in calculating the final grade are
assigned as follows:
Homework/Short Quizzes
Exams (3)
Labs
20%
50%
30%
Rules of the Game
Missed exams may be retaken only if the instructor is satisfied
with the reasons given by a student for being absent from the
exam.
If a student has an unavoidable conflict of significance which
he/she knows about in advance of an examination he/she MUST
notify the instructor prior to the day of the exam.
In cases of emergency (e.g., health problems) the student
MUST provide sufficient evidence of the emergency (e.g., a note
from a doctor) to the instructor before any action will be
considered.
Exams will be retaken only at the discretion of the instructor.
Rules of the Game (cont.)
Missed quizzes may not be retaken as the logistics are too
difficult.
However, I will throw out your two worst performances on quizzes
before calculating your grade, so it is possible to miss two quizzes
without having any impact.
Rules of the Game (cont.)
Missed Labs:
ALL labs count towards your grade. BUT NOTE that students
who miss more than 3 labs will not receive credit for (i.e., will
fail) Geo I.
Students with valid excuses for missing labs may be able to make
them up later; this will be permitted at the discretion of the TA or
Instructor.
As with exams, students should notify the TA or Instructor of an
anticipated absence prior to the lab. In cases of emergency, some
evidence of the emergency will in most cases be required. Note
that any makeups must be completed as soon as possible
(usually by the following week); waiting to make up early labs at
the end of the term will not be permitted.
Rules of the Game (cont.)
Policy on Cheating:
It is expected that each student do his or her own work on any
assignment (homeworks, quizzes, and exams).
I encourage students to confer with each other for the purpose of
gaining increased understanding of concepts presented in the
class.
However, I expect that assignments will reflect the student's own
thoughts and efforts; anything else will be considered cheating.
If cheating is discovered the student will receive a failing grade for
the class and the case will be turned over to the Institute for
additional action.
A Few Extra Words of Advice
• Pay attention to the material in the lectures (in class and online). Don't just go by the book.
• Excuses always sound better if I hear them BEFORE
something is due.
• You are responsible for knowing what goes on in class. If you
miss some part of class, you need to find out what happened.
Talk to a friend, talk to me, check the web site.